Saturday, May 30, 2009

It took a long time to get going today, thanks to jet lag.  I got up to eat some cereal and chat 

online with Mat but then promptly fell back asleep. We finally got up to get some snacks but it still took us a while to leave the house, like close to 2 PM. Then we had to get some food because I had only eaten a bowl of cereal and a banana in the last 20 hours and I could feel it. While mom and I sampled the local starbucks, Shane went to an ATM to pull some money for mom and I.  I tried the matcha tea latte.  Matcha is the "flavor of Japan" and an interesting flavor it is.  Kind of a grass and fish flavor.  I liked it though.  I also had an older gentleman practice his english on me by telling me about his family.  Very sweet guy.  

Old and new in downtown Kyoto

Shane came back from a number of blocks away unsuccessful so we started walking north along the Kamo-gawa river and met up with Kim, Shane's roommate, and her friend Jessica. We originally had planned to see Ginkaku-ji but by the time we started walking we figured we did not have enough time to get there and enjoy it before the 5 PM closing time. Instead we headed for Shimohamo-jinja, the shinto shrine at the split in the river.  The walk up there was really nice with really fancy Japanese-style homes lining the edge of the shrine grounds.  We arrive at Shimogamo-jinja after we found an ATM that Shane could get us cash from.

Kamo-gawa River

Heron on the Kamo-gawa

Shimogamo is one of the oldest shrines in Kyoto, prior to the days when Kyoto served as the capitol in 794 A.D. When Kyoto became the capitol, this shrine was highly revered by the imperial court and, therefore, nobles and samurai. Even imperial princesses worked as shrine maidens.  The main buildings were rebuilt in 1863.  The forest around the shrine is remanent of the primeval forests that existed prior to 794. Very beautiful place.

Entrance to the Shimogamo shrine 

Inside the Shimogamo shrine

We were pretty hungry after touring the shrine so off we went to find the Falafel Garden, a Jewish restaurant. Since Kim and Jessica are vegetarians, they wanted to try this restaurant. We couldn't find it for some time and ended up wandering the streets for a bit. We finally gave up on going there and set off to find anything to eat. We came to a street and Kim looked down one side and said, "What about eating at the Falafel....Garden! Alright!" Funny how the place you're looking for pops up after you stop searching for it! It was a bit expensive ($17 for 2 pitas of falafel) but man was it tasty!! A thunder & lightening storm had rolled in while we were eating and it started to sprinkle as we left the restaurant. Kim and Shane knew better than to walk back and took us down into the subway for a ride back.  When we popped up on the surface again it was pouring!  We quickly walked back to Shane's place.  After hanging out for a while to relax and dry off, Ryoko showed up.  We stayed up late into the night chatting.  Then we ganged up on Shane to tease him.  I taught Ryoko how to give a noogie so now she kept trying to give Shane noogies.  

Walking home in the rain

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